Why get private health insurance?
Avoid public waiting lists
Public waiting lists tend to be much longer than if you go through the private system.
Choose your doctor and hospital
You get to pick where you're treated and choose your preferred doctor. You can also get your own private room.
Save on tax
If you earn over $90k, you'll get hit with the Medicare Levy Surcharge tax – unless you take out health insurance.
Access services not covered by Medicare
Private health insurance can cover services that the Australian public healthcare system doesn't. These include dental, optical and physiotherapy (extras).Tips to get better value for your money
Consider a restricted fund
There are restricted funds for teachers, police officers and various union members. They often come with more benefits and sometimes premiums are cheaper.Don't get couples health insurance
A survey from Finder found that about 3.5 million Aussies have a couples policy. While it may be more convenient, most couples have different individual health needs, which means that you're often paying for services one of you doesn't need.Mix and match your hospital and extras
When you take out hospital and extras cover, it's often better value to go with 2 separate funds. For example, Medibank might have the better hospital insurance policy for you but that doesn't mean you need to get extras with them if ahm are offering a better deal.Compare your cover every year
Health insurance premiums increase every April. It's always worth checking how much your current insurer plans to put its prices up. By switching, you could avoid paying more.More resources on Finder
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